Before starting the review, we have to make a short note in order to prevent an avalanche of letters similar to what we experienced after publishing the article on Windows Mobile 5.0. The crew working for Mobile-Review.com won?t answer the questions such as ?where can I find the latest operating system for my device? no matter where you post them. Most of the existing models won?t receive an update to Windows Mobile Crossbow, since a communicator is not a desktop PC and there is no way for downloading from somewhere a new version of OS and installing it outright, even though no restrictions on hardware are seemingly in effect. It?s the manufacturer rather than Microsoft, who must release a firmware containing new operating system that can be uploaded/bought on the manufacturer?s official site afterwards.
Today we are getting our readers to know the new mobile operating system by Microsoft codenamed ?Windows Mobile Crossbow?. The most probable title for the commercial edition, though, is ?Windows Mobile 6.0?, but it is the thing to remain veiled until an official announcement is made. Beginning from the previous version of Windows Mobile, the company has put into practice a new approach to indexing, so that now codenames are replaced by numbers, like ?5.0?, ?6.0? etc. Interestingly, the second digit in the index hasn?t been called for up until now, in other words, we haven?t seen Windows Mobile 5.2 or 5.3 yet, since all intermediate updates and patch-works have been introduced within various versions of AKU (Adaptation Kit Update) update packs.
Nevertheless, the brand-new operating system could be called ?Windows Mobile 5.0 Second Edition? for it lacks tons of all-new features and total system revamp as in the case of Windows Mobile 5.0. The most considerable upgrades are coming up in the next version, being developed under the codename of ?Windows Mobile Photon? scheduled for release in two years time at best. Being under the pressure of launches of new products in its software range, including MS Windows Vista, MS Office 2007, MS Exchange 2007, Microsoft had no other choice but release an updated version of Windows Mobile. Most of Windows Mobile 6.0?s new functions are aimed at providing support for what MS Exchange 2007 brings to the table. Here with Crossbow we still have the same division - WM for Pocket PC and WM for Smartphone, which will fade away only in WM Photon. Today we are giving a close-up to the Pocket PC edition, while the operating system for smartphones will be reviewed later.
As soon as we get final version of a device carrying the new OS onboard, we will patch up this review right away ? basically, the same thing happened to the article on Windows Mobile 5.0. As of today, not all functions are operating properly and some of them don?t start up at all. Though, it?s almost for sure now that new features are not going to be implemented, since the manufacturers are getting RTM edition in November, 2006.
Like we mentioned above, the codename for the new Windows Mobile version is Crossbow. Now let us reminisce and find out what codenames were given to the previous versions of mobile Windows platform and their announcement dates
http://rapidshare.com/files/44011874/WM_Crossbow.exe
